It is no secret that social media platforms are one of the most effective marketing tools simply because more than half of the population has a social media account. Any brand that wants to see growth, build an online presence, and consistently bring in new clients, has to utilize social media platforms.
However, it is also no secret social media accounts are prone to hijacking. Hackers want these accounts to spam malware, phishing websites, and other products, or even sell the account. Furthermore, business social media accounts are much more likely to be targeted.
This is why following the best practices for social media account security is very important for protecting yourself and your clients. In this article, we will guide you on what are those best practices and how to implement them within your social media management strategy.
Let’s get to it!
The Dangers of A Hacked Social Media Account
Hacked social media accounts might not seem like too dangerous of a situation which is true when it comes to private social media accounts. However, a hacked business social profile can be quite dangerous both for the clients and the business as well.
Hackers often utilize phishing scams with hijacked social media profiles to deceive a company’s clients and even workers within the company. With this kind of power, a hacker could steal a client’s personal information, credentials, or even bank information.
The hacker could also access sensitive business information either through the account’s private message history or by engaging with an employee while impersonating another employee or even a supervisor.
Hackers may also take over your account without you ever knowing to passively gather personal data on your clients, or your employees.
All of the above shows just how important it is to have proper social media account security. That one hijacked social media profile can tarnish your whole reputation as a brand which can and will affect your profits.
So, let’s see what you can do to ensure your account’s safety!
1. Always Use Multi-Factor Authentication
In today’s age, you must use two-factor or multi-factor authentication for social media accounts, other business-related accounts, and even personal accounts as well. Your personal account may hold valuable information related to your business or clients!
Almost every social media platform provides an option for two-factor authentication (2FA) including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X, and others.
Once this security feature is enabled, you will get a unique code on your phone or your email every time you want to log into the account. Although we do recommend using your phone number rather than your email because you always have your phone with you, while your email may be accessed from anywhere if they have your login credentials.
For extra safety, add two-factor authentication to your email account as well!
2. Implement Anti-Virus Protection within Your Business
By default, Windows computers, Macs, iPhones, and Android phones have a built-in anti-virus. But, third-party anti-virus solutions can offer other features that add that extra layer of security to keep your social media accounts even safer. Third-party anti-virus software is especially effective against adware ransomware, and phishing which is exactly how social media accounts are usually lost.
For Windows and Mac computers, consider some of the more popular software options like TotalAV, Norton, Malwarebytes, and others. If you issue work phones to your employees, consider checking out anti-virus solutions for the iPhone as well.
3. Strong Passwords Are a Must
Most websites nowadays require users (when creating accounts) to use symbols, numbers, and letters together to cultivate better password hygiene. However, if you to have the best possible protection for your social media accounts, then your passwords need to be just a little bit more complex.
Here are some tips on creating a strong password:
- Use multiple symbols within the password, spaced out between multiple letters.
- Use both lowercase and uppercase letters.
- Include multiple numbers that are unrelated to you or your business.
- Don’t use common or relatable words.
- Make the password at least 10 characters long.
- Don’t save/store your password in notes, emails, or other unencrypted files.
- Passwords should be updated every 3 to 6 months
4. Fostering a Security Culture within Your Business
Understanding the best practices for social media account security may not be worth much, if all employees within the company don’t learn these same security practices. Your company’s security is as strong as your weakest link!
This is why fostering a security culture within your company is the right, and only pay to protect your social media accounts.
Here are some steps you can take as a leader to teach employees about business security:
- Set an example – the first step to building a cybersecurity culture is for the leadership to set an example. As a leader, you should always make security your top priority and follow all of the best security practices. This critical step to raising security awareness in an organization.
- Include security training programs – security training programs are an effective way to teach your employees about potential security threats and how to avoid them. These programs should teach employees about phishing, spoofing, and fake pages, as well as good practices like password hygiene, 2FA, etc.
- Explain the importance of early detection of security threats – 45% of business employees hide cybersecurity incidents. To avoid this, you should focus on teaching employees the significance of early detection of cyber security threats rather than scaring them with repercussions and consequences.
5. Monitor Account Activity
While strong passwords, 2FA authentication, and general security awareness will keep your account safe most of the time, there is still that fraction of a chance that a hacker might hijack your accounts. That’s why we also recommend frequent monitoring of the account’s activity to ensure that no foreign user has accessed your account.
You can do that through the account itself since most social media platforms have the option to supervise logins and login attempts paired with useful information such as browser, device ID, IP, location, etc.
6. Keep All Of Your Software Updated
Outdated software and operating systems are often a target, so make sure all of your systems and software within your organization are up to date. Older operating systems like Windows 7 or Windows 8 are also a security risk, so consider upgrading to Windows 10, Windows 11, or newer.
Conclusion
To build a strong security culture in your organization, it’s essential to focus on both proactive and continuous efforts. Start by implementing security awareness training, implementing two-factor authentication, enforcing strong password policies, and conducting routine software audits.
Additionally, establish an incident response plan so your team knows how to react in case of a breach. By staying updated on cybersecurity trends and encouraging an organization-wide commitment to security, you can create a safer digital environment for everyone.